Yesterday I had planned to play. I had seen this quilt and I really liked it!

I don't have the name of the pattern or the block yet. But its made using the "train wreck" rulers (Tri Recs) and a drunkard's path block. So I made one--

Oops! My drunkard's path block has the wrong size inner piece! My block looks just like a giant spider! I'll play with this again later.

I'm sewing the Fall in the City blocks to the sashing strips. Not much to look at. Please see everyone's design wall posts at Patchwork Times.

We had a big storm last week, lots of snow and ice. Ken waited until the city plows went and did the sidewalks. Today he moved the big drifts into a pile so we could park in front of our house on the street.

I quilted the R/W/B Album quilt this week--

I dyed a blue backing and quilted it with my favorite pantograph Fantasia--

I did a little online shopping this week. Missouri Star had free shipping and I ordered two cones of thread--

Yesterday I put borders on the brown album top--

A light inner border, and then brown on the long sides and the sky blue on the top and bottom. The inner border fabric was scraps and there wasn't enough of the either the brown or sky blue to all four borders, so I used both.

Weekly Goals--

Load another top

En Provence

I'm not sure how much sewing I'll get done this week. Saturday is a Sew In with Lorri2Rs.

Winter is definitely the time to sew. Its so much easier to stay inside when its cold and nasty!

I dyed a wide green backing for it and quilted it using "Come Dance with Me" panto.

The photo editing program I use has added "text" to their options and I'm playing with them to find one I like.

My design wall has Fall in the City on it yet--

I've been sewing the blocks into rows. Its the "eating an elephant" method--one bite at a time! Please see everyone's design wall posts at Patchwork Times.

Last week my father in law fell on the ice. An ambulance ride and overnight in the hospital but thankfully no broken bones, but a dislocated shoulder. My father in law is a special person, so today I made kuchen for him. Ken is going to visit his parents and it was hot out of the oven--

He loves kuchen!

Weekly Goals--

Quilt a Top

Dye another Backing

Fall in the City

En Provence

Make a binding

RSC FUN

Snow is forecast for this week, good weather to stay home and sew. I haven't pieced in FOREVER!! This week I will play a little.

Now I have to find borders for it. Please see everyone's design wall posts at Patchwork Times.

Last week I was Queen of the UFOs on Stashbusters. I had lots of fun! Wore the Royal furs, the jewels, and had the palace staff to do my bidding. I picked the "theme" for the year. I chose women's sports--and picked a roller derby name--Skye the Bloodthirsty! We each an elf to help us, I have Goron the Werefolf elf. And our own personal flying dragon--mine is Brynioth the Brave. Although I had a week to complete a UFO, I did not! I would have to give up the furs--it was nasty cold in South Dakota! I love wearing the jewels, the crown, the scepter. And the palace staff--scullery maids, house maids, footmen! It was heaven! But now the crown has been passed and I'm back to myself. The penalty is a FQ paid to the Royal Treasurer--a small price for a week of fun! Also on Stashbusters there is the WITB challenge--"Whats in the Box, or Bag. Pictures have been posted, Stephanie so far has the most boxes to open--222! Some are small, but some are stuffed full! I haven't found any boxes here I haven't already opened. So I did WOTT--What's on the Table. The table under the Princess collects things.

Did I find anything unusual? 11 Flashlights. 13 post it pads. 3 Staplers. The only item I found that I had been looking for was a charging pad for my tablet. There's not a lot of difference between "before" and "after" but its been sorted. Only four flashlights now--if you have a long arm you probably know what they are used for. To check your bottom tension you have to get underneath your quilt, and its dark under there! Can't see the stitching in the dark.

Weekly Goals--

Quilt one top

Sew binding on a top

Dye or piece a backing

Sew on Fall in the City

En Provence

Its going to be a busy week. Not sure how much I will get done. But last night I did finish quilting this top--

Work on ONE UFO per month and move it One more step towards completion. (add borders, set blocks into a top, etc)

Any piece of stash
less than 9" WOF goes into the scrap box to be recut into usable
units--noodles, 3.5" x 6.5" bricks, 5" charms.

Finish a UFO before starting a new project (this one is a bit iffy)

I plan to participate
in Design Wall Mondays, Stashbuster's UFO Challenge, Rainbow Scrap Challenge and other internet
fun. Even Stash reports! I may not post to each one every week--but I
enjoy them.

I plan to make quilts for donation and for family.

I will participate in internet fun.

I will remind myself its the PROCESS I love the most!

My words for the year are ENJOY, FOCUS, and BALANCE!!

They have worked well for me, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" I did add Focus and Balance to my words in 2016 and I'm using them again in 2017. I've learned a very helpful phrase--Just One Thing--JOT. Even if you don't think you have time or don't feel like it, do JOT. Wind bobbins. Rip the mistake you laid to the side. Press the blocks you pieced. JOT
can be locating a pattern, doing math, or making lists. JOT is a task
that might take 15 minutes. Its a great tool, its used a lot. I've
been limiting my internet time and sewing more.

Today I'm cooking ham, black eyed peas and kale in a stew. All supposed to
bring you good luck in the new year. Do you have a special menu or
tradition for today?